Ban on LTTE: HC issues notice to Centre, TN

Chennai: The Madras High Court on Monday ordered issue of notice to the Centre, Tamil Nadu government and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Tribunal, which extended the ban on Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.

Vaiko, in his petition, submitted that the one-man Tribunal headed by Justice VK Jain examined witnesses at various places in the state recently and extended the ban.

He contended that the Tribunal`s order dated November 11 last year was contrary to the provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.

He also contended that though the LTTE`s aim was separation of a part of territory of Sri Lanka, Sri Lanka was not part of India and hence there is no threat to the sovereignty or territorial integrity of India from the banned organisation.

Contending that the Tribunal had rejected his submissions and formed its opinion that there was sufficient material and cause for declaring the LTTE as an unlawful association to extend the ban, he challenged the central government order of May 14, 2010, which banned LTTE in the country.